A 400-pound crocodile gets a CT scan at a Utah hospital

Version 1

Utah’s Hogle Zoo and University of Utah Health teamed up to perform a full-body CT scan on Bill, a 61-year-old, nearly 400-pound Siamese crocodile after zoo clinicians noted decreased appetite, weight loss, and abdominal bloating despite normal bloodwork. The April 2026 scan required coordinated transport, specialized body support, and human-hospital imaging equipment large enough to handle a 10-foot crocodile. Imaging identified gastric stones as a contributor to Bill’s clinical signs, giving the care team a clearer explanation for symptoms that standard testing hadn’t resolved. (newswise.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the case is a practical reminder of how advanced imaging can extend diagnostic reach in zoological and reptile medicine when routine workups are inconclusive. CT can provide anatomic detail that plain radiography or ultrasound may miss in large reptiles, and Bill’s case also highlights the operational side of specialty care: anesthesia risk, transport planning, cross-institution coordination, and access to equipment outside a zoo hospital can all determine whether a diagnosis is even possible. More broadly, zoos are increasingly leaning on partnerships with human medical centers for high-resolution imaging in large or anatomically challenging species. (uofuhealth.utah.edu)

What to watch: Watch for whether Bill’s team shares follow-up on treatment, clinical response, or whether this case prompts more formal protocols for referral imaging in large exotic animals. (uofuhealth.utah.edu)